Chicago White Sox: 5 Projects for New Hitting Coach Jeff Manto

On Monday, the Chicago White Sox named Jeff Manto as their new hitting coach.  Manto is a good hire.  He served as a hitting instructor in the White Sox minor league system for the last three years.  Before entering the White Sox organization, Manto had been the Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach. 

Manto takes the unenviable position of revamping a poor offense.  The White Sox ranked 11th in the American League in runs scored (four runs per game) and eighth in batting average (.252).  Three White Sox hitters—Alex Rios, Gordon Beckham and Juan Pierre—placed in the bottom 13 in OPS in Major League Baseball.  Adam Dunn was lower than anyone else but didn't have enough plate appearances.

Often, the White Sox lost because they simply couldn't score.  In 53 games, the White Sox scored two or fewer runs.  47 of those games resulted in losses.

Hitting coach is no easy job.  No silver bullet exists to cure a player or team that has been plagued by poor hitting.

Following are a few projects Manto could work on.

Tell Hitters to Swing Away

The White Sox should be among the best home run-hitting teams in the AL.  However, they were in the middle of the pack this season.  Only Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin hit more than 20 home runs.

With four players who have hit 20 home runs in multiple seasons, the White Sox should be knocking the ball out of the park constantly.

Manto needs to bring the best power out of the White Sox lineup.  Showing the White Sox how easy it is to hit home runs at U.S. Cellular Field, Manto can put White Sox hitters on the right track. 

Also, Manto can encourage Alexei Ramirez and Brent Morel to swing away.  Ramirez—who is very capable of clubbing the ball—only hit 15 home runs last season.  Morel hit eight of his 10 home runs in September.  More could be on the way for Morel.  All that is needed is encouragement.

Teach Hitters to Take Walks

A major downfall of the White Sox was the inability to take walks.  The White Sox placed 20th in MLB in walks (475).  In August, the White Sox became the fourth team ever to fail to draw a walk in four straight games.  Only Paul Konerko and Dunn drew more than 50 walks.

Manto needs to teach White Sox hitters patience at the plate.  Preaching them to take pitches they dislike is essential.  White Sox hitters need to control their bat when pitchers don't control their pitches.

Help Adam Dunn Regain His Stroke

Perhaps the toughest project facing Manto is the suddenly slipping Dunn.  Dunn had long been the hitter who could produce good numbers despite a low batting average and hefty strikeout count.  This season, Dunn imploded with the worst regular-season performance ever by a designated hitter.  His OPS (.569) and RBI total (42) were the worst by any designated hitter with 400 plate appearances. 

Manto must help Dunn refocus.  Helping Dunn forget the National League style is the first step.  Dunn may have suffered from a tough adjustment to the AL.  Encouraging him to be patient and take more walks would help.  Dunn took 75 walks, his lowest total in eight years.

Already, Manto seems to have thoughts on Dunn.  During a conference call, Manto said, "I think maybe in that case, you have an older player, you look for a breaking ball instead of a fastball...That's all it is, making an adjustment."

Precisely to the point, Manto recognizes that Dunn needs to be more patient.  Still, Manto said that he needed to talk to Dunn about things.  Manto should have a willing ear from Dunn in spring training.

Make Alex Rios a Viable Good

Rios needs to have his head screwed on right.  Hopefully, Manto has the right bolts and a monkey wrench.

Rios has been up and down throughout his career.  By his third year, Rios had worked his way to a .302 average with 17 home runs and 82 RBI.  A year later, he hit 24 home runs and drove in 85 runs.

Then, he went wild.  Tapering off a bit, Rios drove in six fewer runs in 2008 and saw his OPS fall 54 points (from .852 to .798).  Realizing he was in the second year of a six-year, $69.8 million deal, Rios dropped his OPS 107 more points and drove in only 71 runs.

Becoming a waiver-wire gift to the White Sox in August didn't wake him up at all.  Rios hit only .199 with nine RBI to finish the season with the White Sox.

Rios performed splendidly in his first full season with the White Sox.  In 2010, Rios drove in a career-high 88 runs and had a .791 OPS.  2011 was nowhere close.  Rios was last in OPS and cut his RBI total in half.

Manto needs to straighten Rios out in order that Rios can be a viable hitter past age 30.  A first step would be showing Rios video of himself of 2010 to show him how good he is and how hard he can hit the ball.  Next, Manto needs to remind Rios to be patient at the plate.  Rios set a career low in walks (27).

Further, Manto needs to motivate Rios.  Manto must remind him that he might have only a few good years left, and that Rios must make the most of them.  Rios needs the reminder that his big contract means nothing if he can't stay in the majors.

Teach Gordon Beckham Good Hitting Method

Beckham was set to become the next big run-producing third basemen when he came to the majors.  After driving in 63 runs in 103 games in his first season, Beckham had a rising star.  Quickly, Beckham's star faded.  In each of the last two seasons, Beckham has driven in fewer than 50 runs.  This season, Beckham was fifth worst in OPS (.633).

Manto needs to work extra with Beckham to make him the all-around player Beckham can become.  Through video of different pitchers, Beckham can learn what he's missing when facing pitchers.  Also, Manto can help Beckham learn to adjust to pitchers.

Further, Beckham needs to learn to visualize at the plate.  Manto could teach Beckham to visualize success at the plate.  If Beckham can visualize himself hitting well, then he can succeed.